DANVILLE, Pa. – Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced that Geisinger Medical Center recently received a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.
Pennsylvania ESGR is particularly proud to present employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving in our nation’s Reserve forces during ESGR’s 50th Anniversary year.
Geisinger Medical Center’s Rebecca Stone was nominated for the Patriot Award by Spc. Sara Canepa of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s C Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Camepa noted that Stone is well versed in USERRA and supported her while she was at Fort Benning for Basic Training, ensuring that she received pay for almost the entire six months of training. Canepa stated: “Overall, Stone is an amazing employer for those in the National Guard. She has been consistently supportive and helped me navigate through the processes of joining the military, attending basic training and absences from work for military service. In addition, she gives me the time I needed to return to work from military service and didn't hesitate to make sure I had time with family around the holidays. Her support has made it easier for me to serve (in the National Guard) and maintain my career at Geisinger.”
Chris Grill, Pennsylvania North Central Area ESGR volunteer, presented the Patriot Award to Stone. In presenting the award, Grill commented: “It’s critical and an honor to recognize and pay tribute to those employers that hire and support our Guard and Reserve forces. It would be difficult for those in the uniformed services to perform their mission without employer support.” Grill added: “Today’s members of the Guard and Reserves are highly trained and skilled; they bring integrity, a global perspective and, proven leadership to the civilian workforce.”
ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members, and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.
For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.